4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mrsallen08]

Hello there

I know a few people who keep rabbits and chickens together in one big enclosed space and this is what we are hoping to do in a few weeks. My garden is on a steep slope and has 4/5 different tiers going up. All the rabbits live at the bottom by the patio and all the chickens live at the top. However, when all are out freeranging in the middle they meet and the chickens are terrified and run back up the hill! The rabbits are not bothered in the slightest! When we put them all in together will there be any trouble? Will they all just get used to each other or will the chickens just hide all day in the coop?

Any help/tips needed! Thanks Heather

[cathybc]

your garden sounds wonderful ! My girls jump into the hutch and shed where I keep my bunnies at any opportunity, neither bunnies nor chooks seem bothered about each other at all. I am sure they will get used to each other.

[The Dogmother]

My bunnies and hens do sometimes freerange together, but I would be careful, chooks can give buns a nasty peck and a friend had their chook kicked badly by their bunny, so keep an eye on them.

[bethany]

My rabbits and chickens used to run around together but the chickens quickly started bullying my rabbits and my rabbits quickly started eating chicken feed and (disgustingly) chicken poo. They were fine at first but then I think the chickens realised that the rabbit hutch was a comfier place to lay their eggs and decided to evict my bunnies, by force. I do have a couple of rather bossy chickens though, most of them were fine together I think it depends on the nature of the rabbit and the chickens.

[mrsallen08]

See I think the rabbits will be the bullies! We used to live in the city and these are quite 'ard rabbits! They are lovely but are braver than most, often jumping up to the dog when he's asleep in the garden and they do go to chase the hens now when all are free ranging. It will be quite a large area that they will have together so plenty of space for all. We will definately have to increase free ranging together before confining them all to the top garden...hmm...

[pickles]

i would be a little worried about the chickens pecking my buns eyes or nose. When we hatched out chickens they free roamed the lounge with our house rabbit and the chicken kept trying to peck mr pickles eyes or nose! as thye gof or shiny things.